The door to the trailer opened, and my mother walked in. Concern was etched on her face. “I can hear the two of you from outside.”
“Good, did you hear how ungrateful your son is? I paid for his college education, and he’s trying to tell me I ruined his life.”
I rolled my eyes and blew out a frustrated breath.
“Bob, that is enough.”
“Enough? How is that enough? I put him through school, gave him more of a chance to succeed than I ever had. I had to prove to my father I could run this business after serving my time in the military.”
With a scoff, I looked at him. “You don’t think I’ve had to prove to you I can take over this business? Is that why you haven’t retired? You don’t think I can do it?”
My mother rushed over to me. “No, that is not it at all. Your father knows you are more than capable of taking over. Don’t you, Bob?”
His face was void of any expression. Turning, he walked out of the trailer and slammed the door shut.
Shaking my head, I mumbled, “Fuck it.”
“Do not talk that way, Nash Barrett.”
“I gave up my own dreams, Mom, to do this. To take over this damn construction company. This is not what I wanted to do with my life.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I know.”
Guilt rushed through my body. Reaching out for her, I pulled my mother into a hug. “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean that. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I’m sorry.”
“Yes, you did mean it, and it’s okay if you wanted a different life.”
“I didn’t want a different life.”
She looked up at me, her brows raised.
“Fine, I wanted a little bit of a different life. I would have still worked for Dad, but I would have liked to do other things as well. Designing buildings was one of them.”
“Your sister told me about your degree, Nash. How you kept taking classes. I know you got your architecture degree, and so does your father.”
Smirking, I shook my head. “Morgan can’t keep her mouth shut, can she?”
“How in the world did you find time to take all those classes?”
I shrugged. “I started doubling up in college.”
“Is it true you designed Tucker and Charlie’s house?”
“I did. Charlie had some ideas drawn up, and I brought them to life and built it for them. It was one of the reasons it was so easy, because I had my architecture degree. I’ve designed a few houses, Mom. And I’ve made some money off it. I had it invested, and I’m looking at buying some land out near Tucker and Charlie to build my own home.”
“Near Marble Falls? Will you still drive in for work?”
“Yes, of course. It’s not as far out, but the daughter of the former land owner needs to dump the land; she can’t afford the taxes. I got a lead on it and am hoping to purchase it before it goes on the market. She just wants out and is pretty cool about giving it to me below market value. She could actually sell it for a bit more. She wants to unload it.”
“I see,” my mother said softly.
“I’m not leaving Barrett Construction, but if Dad would ever let the reins go, I can make this company even better. I’m building a great group of guys I can trust, and I’m hoping at some point
to offer the design element into the business.”
Her eyes widened with delight. “Nash! That is a great idea.”
Kissing her on the forehead, I said, “I think so too.”